Hera

I don't know what came over me but the moment I spotted my sister heading towards me, I knew I needed to do something.

I ended up kissing Mason. What I didn't expect is him not only kissing me back but deepening the kiss. When we pull away, Mason has a smirk on her face and my sister? Well, let's just say her eyeballs are about to pop out.

"I have to say, that was quite a surprise." Mason comments and I smile back to hide my embarrassment.

" You really are shameless, aren't you Hera?" My sister, Tara sneers with disgust.

I turn to give her my undivided attention, a smirk playing at the corner of my lips.

" I don't understand what you mean." I decide to play it cool, something that I know will irk Tara.

" You don't mind throwing yourself at a random man at a club? Is that what you have been up to all these years? It's no wonder you can't find a man for yourself." Tara spats with distaste. I clench my fists under the table just to stop myself from snapping back at her.

" Who is this?" Mason asks, a frown forming on his face.

" My beloved sister." I reply sarcastically. Mason doesn't seem surprised by my answer however.

" Oh, I understand. Your sister thinks you can't possibly have a hot boyfriend like me." He comments, his hands going around my waist as he pulls me closer. He has his eyes directed to Tara all this time.

" Listen, I don't care about the relationship you have with my woman. What I won't allow is you walking here and disrespecting her." Mason's voice is low but the warning is loud and clear. I can feel a change in his aura. Looking at him, he looks nothing like the playful man I bumped into at the airport nor the flirty Mason from a moment ago.

Tara is taken aback by Mason's outburst as the fear reflected in her eyes betrays her.

" This is what you will do. Turn around and crawl back to whatever hole you came out of. Don't ruin our mood or you won't be able to bear the consequences." He snarls, his voice so low and menacing that a chill runs down my spine.

I don't understand what just happened but the way Mason is acting at the moment... It's scary but oh girl! I like it. So powerful and domineering.

Tara looks at me with a scowl before she scoffs, turning around and walking away. I smile, loving how scared Tara looked a moment ago.

" Did you enjoy the show?" Mason suddenly asks and I turn to face him, my smile gone. Now that Tara is gone, I have to face the fact that she just exposed my shortcomings to him. Not to mention the kiss from earlier!

" Thankyou for standing up for me." I say, taking a sip of my drink. Growing up, no one ever defended me with the exception of Chloe. I never thought that a day would come when a total stranger would be defending me against my own family.

" Don't thank me, Hera. I am curious though. Is that how she treats you?" Mason asks and I swallow.

I look around, trying to think of a way out but I know I can't escape Mason's gaze.

" Yes. We don't exactly get along. " I confess and I feel a lump forming in my throat. As much as I pretend to not care about my estranged relationship with my family, the truth is, it hurts. I hope they don't resent and look down on me for being "fat" and " useless."

" Why?" He asks, his eyes narrowing slightly.

I shrug my shoulders, taking a big sip of the alcohol hoping that it will help numb the sadness crawling inside me.

" I'm a disgrace. I wasn't what my family expected me to be." I relay what my mother always tells me. Mason frowns, seemingly confused by my reply.

" What does that even mean?"

" It simply means I am a failure. As a woman, I can't control my body weight and can't even get a man for myself. I am thirty years old without a man to call mine, talk less of a family."

I don't know why I am telling Mason this considering that we aren't that close. I mean, we only met today and here I am, sharing what I would rather lock at the depths of my heart.

Mason suddenly leans in, his hand reaching out to cup my cheeks.

" Listen, don't ever put yourself down, especially for things you can't control. You are the most beautiful and sexy woman I have ever met and if your family can't see that then screw them. As far as you having a man is concerned,it's a matter of time before they come rushing towards you." He declares and I don't know why I smile at his words. They sound fantastic but I know my reality.

" Thanks for the sweet words, Mason. But I know where I stand in this society. It's not just my family, the people around me, even the strangers I meet. They judge me for my body. The disgust on their faces cannot be concealed." I say with a sigh.

" I am used to it actually. I know people will not like me for my plus size and no man would want anything serious with me." I add.

" Hera, that's not right. You are a very attractive woman." Mason booms and I smile depreciatingly.

" Yeah. I am attractive but not enough to keep a man. The men who come to me just want to know how it feels to sleep with a fat woman. They want to explore and satisfy their curiosity." I say bitterly.

" You don't know that. What you said isn't true." Mason counters but I shake my head.

" Believe me, I do know. I am a thirty year old woman, Mason. I have been through this." There was a time I still hoped that there was a man for me out there. Not anymore. I gave up hope and accepted my fate a long time ago." That's the sad reality of my life. Love, marriage and relationships are things that weren't meant for me.

" No. It's just that you haven't met the right man." He counters again and I smile.

" The right man?" I ask with a scoff. " I once had a man I thought was my Mr Right. Turns out he pretended to love me to win a bet. Pathetic, right?"

" Do you also think I am here to experiment with you? To explore and satisfy my curiosity?" Mason asks, his question stunning me. Momentarily silence accompanies us, the sound of our heartbeat the only thing resonating.

" I don't know. You tell me what's your goal tonight."

Hera

I keep my gaze locked on Mason's face, awaiting his answer. My heart beats wildly in my chest. For some reason, I am anxious and nervous at the same time. I don't know what I want to hear from his confessions yet something deep inside me tells me that Mason's answer will either shatter me further or...

" I find you very attractive, Hera." Mason confesses, wetting his lips. My eyes follow each of his actions.

" And?" I probe further, excitement coursing through my nerves.

" I am interested in you as a woman, not a friend." He declares, looking straight at my face. His eyes hold a tender look. A look that I have not seen on any other man's face, not even from Carlos when we dated back in the days.

I stand up abruptly, my emotions in turmoil. The chair tumbles to the ground, making a loud clanging sound.

" Is something the matter, Hera?" Mason asks in a concerned voice. His hand reaches out to touch my shoulder.

" Nothing. I have to leave." I announce, turning to walk away. However, Mason doesn't let me as he clasps my wrist tightly.

" Why? Why are you running away? You asked me a question and I answered it. You can't face the truth now?" Mason questions, his brows furrowing.

I shake my head and try to escape his hold, but it is to no avail.

" I'm not running away, Mason. I just don't want to believe your words and regret it in the future. I don't have a place for regrets in my life and I won't allow myself to fall to the abyss of regrets." I cry.

" Regret it? Why would you?" Mason probes, his brows furrowed. I don't know if he is playing the fool or is genuinely clueless. After what I told him about me, isn't he supposed to know why?

" I have lived a life depraved of warmth and affection. I am afraid I'll cling to that little hope you are giving me and treat it as a treasure." I start, " I don't want that because in this world, nothing is permanent. What happens if that interest you have in me dwindles?

I am not that strong nor am I a nonchalant person. I can't bear heartache nor can I ignore it. The best I can do is walk away at the first sign of trouble and stay away from it."

" Hera," Mason breathes my name, his eyes softening. I look away. I can't bear his stare right now.

" You are shutting me down to protect yourself from getting hurt?" He asks, his question nailing the truth I always try to avoid.

" What else can I do? I have been hurt in the past. I also know how society views us. Why bother having fantasies that will never come true?" I exclaim.

" Look at me, Hera." Mason whispers, his voice soothing to my ears.

I shake my head.

" Look at me," he repeats. This time, he cups my cheeks and turns my face to him. Our eyes meet.

" I don't care what your family or the society thinks about you. If I did, I wouldn't have followed you all the way here." Mason's words stun me.

" You followed me?" I ask with narrowed eyes.

" Not just today. I have been keeping an eye on you for some time. At the airport, I bumped into you on purpose." He reveals, surprising me even further.

" What?" I ask,shocked. I pull my hand from his grip, taking a step back to keep some distance.

" I followed you all the way here, not because I am some psychotic stalker. I wanted to be with you, to protect you.

I know that this sounds so twisted but I want you Hera. I have wanted you from the first day I saw you entering Club image back in Chicago."

I tense from his confessions. Club image. Does he know about my secret?

"It was then that I decided that one day you will be mine. I won't lie to you, I am a very dominant and possessive man. I always get what I want. And you, Hera is what I want." Mason declares, his eyes burning with a fiery fire that threatens to consume me.

I could feel my body heating up from his intense gaze. My heart however calms when I realize that he doesn't know anything about my relationship with club Image. The last thing I want is anyone finding out another reason to judge me.

" Run all you want, little bird but I can assure you one thing, you will end up in my arms and when that happens, I'll claim you as mine." Mason asserts, giving me a long stare before he sits up from his chair.

He closes the space between us, a smile on his face as he places a chaste kiss on my forehead.

" Have a goodnight sleep, Hera. I'll see you soon." He announces before walking away.

I watch as his silhouette disappears from the bar. Only when he is out of sight do I realize that I have been clenching my hands into fists.

I release the deep breaths I didn't dare take in his presence as my mind replays his confessions.

He has been stalking me? The thought alone should scare me but why do I feel excited?

I must have lost my mind at this point.

" Another glass?" The bartender's question pulls me from my thoughts. I give him a smile, pushing my encounter with Jason to the back of my mind.

" No need. I think I have had enough drinks." I reply politely, fishing for notes from my handbag.

I pay for mine and Jason's drink and tip the handsome man.

" Don't let your fear and past experiences keep you away from your happiness. Give yourself a chance, life is too short to live with what ifs." The man says, giving me a smile before turning around to busy himself with his work.

I don't linger around. Leaving the bar, I head to my room.

Maybe when I wake up tomorrow, everything that happened will turn into a dream, nothing more or less.

Hera

Today is my last day here in Vegas and the second day I haven't seen Mason. After our last encounter at the club, he disappeared into thin air. I'll be lying if I say I haven't been looking forward to seeing him again. After his declaration, is he trying to play hard to get or was his confession nothing but bullshit?

" Are you even listening to me?" Chloe's voice snaps me out of my thoughts. I lift my eyes to meet her glare.

" Of course I am listening." I reply, smiling at her. Chloe doesn't buy my act though.

" You have been distracted since we met. What are you thinking about?" She probes and I swallow. I admit Mason has been all over my head but I am not admitting any of that to Chloe or I won't hear the end of it.

" Nothing." I deny her claims. Chloe raises her brows, her eyes screaming suspicion.

" Hera, are you keeping something from me? Maybe a loverboy you had a one night stand with these days?" She inquires and I almost choke on my saliva.

" What nonsense are you spouting?" I hiss but my face is already covered in blush. " You have a wild imagination Chloe." I add, flustered. Of all things I can think about, that was the only thing she suspected. Of course, she won't be Chloe if she doesn't come with the wildest and most absurd suggestions.

Chloe rolls her eyes at me.

" What's wrong with having one night stands from time to time? Are you planning on taking your v- card to your grave? " She snorts. " Besides, the way you are blushing, I can tell something happened."

" Chloe, shut up." I grumble and she laughs.

" It's okay if you don't want to tell me who got you looking like a teenager falling in love. You know what, I have some exciting sexcapades to share." She giggles, wiggling her brows mischievously.

I roll my eyes, knowing that there's no escaping hearing how she and her new husband fucked like bunnies on heat.

After almost an hour of being traumatized by Chloe's tales of how her husband is skilled in bed, I finally bid her goodbye and make my way to the airport.

" I'll visit you soon in Chicago after I get enough of my husband's dick." Those are the last words she shouts before I slip into the cab.

***

My life here in Chicago feels more like a routine. Waking up, working at the clinic, coming back home to pen down more words to my story. It's too monotonous and boring. Just like each day, today is Tuesday and after dealing with tons of patients, I am ready to head back home.

I skip to the parking lot, slipping into my car before I start driving home. Halfway through the drive, I change my mind and decide to head to the club.

Club image is like a little solace to my loneliness. I come here several times when I feel down. My car pulls up outside the club. I take my time to survey the area. Since today is not Saturday, I can't use the private parking lot.

After making sure the coast is clear, I make my way inside. I avoid the club arena as I head to the workers wing.

I am about to push the door open when it's pulled open from inside. My eyes come into contact with his blue mesmerizing ones.

My body goes into shock, eyes widening and legs rooted in place.

" Hera?" Mason asks, seemingly shocked as I am. He looks behind him and my eyes follow him, catching a glimpse of a half naked woman with roughly tousled hair.

I recognize her. She is one of the club dancers.

Mason turns to look at me, swallowing as guilt paints his face.

My mind sums up what transpired inside and my heart clenches. A bitter feeling crawls from deep inside my stomach, rising up and scorching in its wake.

" What are you doing here, Hera?" Mason asks, his gaze fixed on me.

" I didn't expect to see you here." I reply, aware of what it means for a man to come to such a place.

" Oh yeah. I had something to talk about with Linda." Mason replies and I fight the urge to scoff at his words.

Talk about my feet.

" What about you? Why are you here?" He probes and I fight to find the right excuse as to what I would be doing at a changing room for club workers.

It would have been easy to slap a random excuse if Mason didn't confess to stalking me the last time we met. I don't know how much he knows about me.

Now that I think of it, I feel my anger rising. Did he stalk Linda just like he did me? Was he here confessing like he did to me at Vegas? My hands tighten into fists and my annoyance resurfaces.

" I was looking for someone and was told she was here." I reply, praying he doesn't probe further.

" Maybe you went in the wrong direction." He offers and I nod. Indeed, I got the wrong direction from the start. I should have gone home in the first place instead of coming here and having such an awkward encounter.

I nod and turn around with every intention of walking away.

" Hera... wait!" Mason calls, grabbing my wrist forcing me to a halt. I turn around and regard him with raised brows.

After catching him with another woman doing god knows what, what else is there to stop me for?

Linda, who had been busy changing into her work clothes walks out. She gives me a curt nod before walking away.

I turn my attention back to Mason.

" Don't you have anything to tell me after what happened in Vegas?" He asks, further fanning my anger. The nerve of him to remind me about what happened in Vegas.

" I do have something to tell you. You are a bastard and a liar. Don't ever come close to me again." I spat, snatching my hand before walking away.